Bolted tank structure



p 1 M. F. WATERS BOLTED TANK STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 8, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IN VENT OR AI- 77/ 63M, flaw;

A ITORNEZ Sept. 4, 1934. M. F. WATERS BOLTED TANK STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 8, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7 Y B I M,- ATTORNEYS i atented Sept. 4 1934 BOLTED TANK STRUCTURE Application August 8, 1933, Serial No. 684,280

5 Claims.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in bolted field tank structures and has for its object to produce a tank composed of meets of metal bolted together and supported in such a manner to insure a maximum rigidity and durability and at the same time eliminate the conventional sub-structure employed in tanks of this character.

The present invention is directed primarily to the roof and supporting structure, wherein the metal sheets. forming the roof are preferably out in gore shape, bolted together at their adjacent edges with sealing gaskets interposed therebetween and supported by a series of radiating channel braces constructed and designed to perform the additional function of retaining the bolt heads to prevent turning of the bolts during the assembly of the tank.

A further object of my invention resides in the improved manhole structure designed to provide perfect drainage and eliminate the formation of a water pocket at its point of connection to the tank roof. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved ladder and connecting means to afford entrance into the tank through the manhole.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features herein set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which numerals of like character designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 shows a view of the complete tank in side elevation partially broken away to illustrate the roof structure and ladder. v

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view with a portion of th roof broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 showing the manner of securing the manhole and roof sheets in place.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 showing the roof and supporting braces secured to the side wall of the tank.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3 showing the supporting brace in cross section.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken through a portion of the ladder structure.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the lower end of one of the ladder uprights and the means for securing the same to the tank floor.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of-the preferred form of sealing the adjacent flanges of the metal sheets or staves of the tank.

The body portion of my improved tank structure is made up of a plurality of metal sheets 1 preferably of ten or twelve gauge material with their adjacent vertical edges overlapping and bolted together in the conventional manner to form a substantially cylindrical container. The bottom 2 is also constructed of similar material and secured in place by the usual flanges and bolts.

In the form shown in the drawings, my improved roof 3 comprises a series of substantially gore-shaped sheets of metal 4 arranged with their adjacent edges in overlapping relation as clearly shown in Fig. 2, said sheets radiating from the vertical axis of the tank and being gradually inclined downwardly toward the side walls of the latter. 5 represents an annular manhole located in the center of the roof 3 and provided With a radial flange 6 which extends outwardly at substantially right angles and rests on top of the inner edges of the respective roof sheets 4, with a sealing ring or gasket 7 interposed ther between. Beneath the inner edges of the roof sheets 4 I provide a channel ring 8, the web of which provided with a series of spaced openings adapted to receive bolts 9, the adjacent portions of the roof sheets 4, manhole flange 6 and sealing gasket 7 being'also provided with registering apertures to accommodate said bolts. The heads of thebolts 9 are adapted to lie within the channel of the ring Band are thus retained in position and are prevented from turning when the nuts 10 are screwed on.

The outer extremities of the roof sheets 4 are adapted to be bolted to the top flange 11 of the tank body 1- by bolts 12; a sealing gasket 13 being interposed between the flange and sheets in a conventional manner. 14 represents a plurality of braces, the upper-edges of which, as

'- portion of the top of the roof which is a most ob I provide suitable gaskets 17 which lie between the overlapping edges of the roof sheets so that the joints are tightly sealed when the nuts are screwed on to the bolts 16.

It will be noted that in combining the channels 15 with the roof supporting braces 14, I provide integral units which serve not only to strengthen and support the roof structure, but retain the bolt heads and prevent turning of the lat ter when the tank is being assembled, which is a decided. improvement over structures heretofore employed. I

It will also be observed that by constructing the manhole in the manner shown and described, that is, by having the radial flange 6 overlapping the formation of a water pocket at the central jectionable feature in the conventional tank roofs. With a tank roof constructed in accordance, with my invention, the drainage of Water is insured.

The manhole 5 is closed by a cap or cover 17 adapted to be bolted to the top flange 18 of the manhole by bolts l9, a sealing gasket 20 being interposed between the two.

21 represents a ladder which is arranged a vertical position substantially centrally of the tank and immediately below the manhole 5, extending to the bottom 2 of the tank. This ladder is preferably constructed of angle irons 22 ar rangedin oppositely disposed pairs forming the uprights, and as shown in Fig. 6, the rungs 23 are vertically spaced with their opposite ends welded or otherwise rigidly secured between the adjacent spaced arms of the angles. The lower extremities of each pair of angle irons are bolted together and to the floor 2 of the tank by means of angle plate 24 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the bolts 25 in thebase of the angle 24 being of a series of bolts employed in connecting the center seam of the tank bottom. The upper extremities or" the angle irons 22 are bolted to an annular skirt 26 which depends from the manhole 5, bolts 27 passing through the respective angle irons and the sleeve 26. Thus the ladder 21 serves not only to facilitate entrance through the manhole 5,.but as a vertical support for the central portion of the tank.

28 represents a clean-cut door located in the wall of the tank adjacent the bottom 2 and adapted to'be bolted in place in the conventional manner, said door being provided with flanged openings 29 adapted to be closed by plugs 30 whereby wh n it becomesnecessary to clean the tank, the plugs 30 may be removed to permit the insertion of awrench or other tool in removing the nuts and bolts which retain the clean-out door. Y i

a In Fig. 9 of the drawings I have shown the preferred manner of securing and sealing the shell chime Here it will be noted that the vertical extremities of the sheets or staves 1 are flanged or chimed as at 31 and that one end of said chime is criniped as at 32 so as to overlie the straight portion of the chime 31 of the adjacent stave. Suitable packing strips 33 are interposed between the adjacent chimes as clearly illustrated in the drawings so that when the bolts are in place, the staves are held rigidly in place and sealed against leakage.

Obviously a tank constructed in accordance with my invention afifords a structure of maximum rigidity and durability and is exceedingly simple in construction and installation, which is a feature of great importance in the oil industry where large numbers of tanks are employed.

. While I have shown and described a cylin drical tank, it will be noted that I do not intend to limit myself to this or any particular shape or form as the principle of my invention may, with slight alterations, be applied to various shapes and sizes of tanks with equal effect.

'From the foregoing it is believed that the construction and advantages of my invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art without further description, it being borne in mind that numerous changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. In a cylindrical bolted tank structure, a circular root comprising a series of substantially gore-shaped metal sheets arranged with their adjacent edges in overlapping relation, a manhole in substantially the center of said roof coinprising an upwardly extending cylindrical body, a radial flange carr ed by said bodyintermediate thevertical extremities of the latter and overlying the inner ends of said roof sheets, the lower extremity of said body forming a depending annular skirt, means for securing said roof sheets to said flange, and vertically ext-ending supporting means secured to said depending skirt for supporting the central portion of said roof.

2. A tank structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for securing said manhole flange and roof sheets together comprises an annular channel ring, and bolts adapted to pass through said channel ring and the inner ex tremities of said roof sheets.

3. A bolted tank structure as claimed in claim 1 including a series of braces radiating from the axis of said roof and arranged immediately beneath the respective overlapping edges'oi said roof sheets, each of said braces comprising an inverted channel, one wall or" which is extended llifi downwardly llO'fOllil a relatively deep depending tive pairs of angle irons, and means for rigidly securing the lower extremities of said angle irons to the floor of said tank.

- MILLARD F. WATERS. 

